Running Windows 7 on the Acer Aspire One

Uncategorized No Responses »
Dec 212009
Windows 7

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Well, I’ve certainly enjoyed my stint with Ubuntu on my Acer Aspire One A150 netbook, but simply got tired of things not quite working properly, and “making do” with a sub-standard linux version of popular software, like Skype and Picasa, for example.

While there’s an awful lot to commend Ubuntu, and I would still heartily recommend it to anyone looking for a free, fully functional operating system, it still doesn’t have the mainstream support that an industry standard operating system like Windows does.

The final straw was when I couldn’t get my Vodafone USB mobile broadband modem working under Ubuntu on the Acer netbook. Mobile broadband, I figured, was pointless if I couldn’t use it with my mobile computer.

So, not without a twinge of regret, I created a bootable Windows 7 USB stick and took the plunge, replacing Ubuntu with the latest offering from Microsoft.

Boy am I glad that I did.

I was a bit worried about performance on the Aspire One’s atom processor with 1GB of Ram, but Windows 7 seems to fly… and everything just works.

Here are the only “issues” I experienced, and they were easily resolved:

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Posted by Calvin at 14:54

All work and no play….

Children, Education, Evening Echo Column, Parenting, School No Responses »
Dec 172009
Mathematics homework

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The twins had finished their homework, and had gone off to play. Next to me the little one struggled on valiantly, ploughing through maths, reading and several worksheets before moving on to rehearsing her lines for the upcoming school Christmas concert. She could hear her sisters playing in the next room, but was keen to keep Miss happy by getting all her homework. It was too much.

Since school restarted in September, when the little one, who’s six-years-old, got a new teacher, we’ve seen the volume of homework she brings back each afternoon increase. Now it’s reached a level that’s bordering on the ridiculous. A six year old is already tired after being at school all day. The last thing she needs when she arrives home is big chunk of homework. To her credit she does it diligently every day, except Friday, which is thankfully homework free.

As I help her with her maths, reading and writing, I can’t help thinking that enough is enough… that outside school hours the priority for young children should be to play and have fun — to learn through non-academic pursuits that expand knowledge, promote problem solving, stimulate imagination, develop spatial awareness and all those vital things that you can’t teach in a classroom. Instead they have homework, which after a long day at school leaves them mentally exhausted, tired, cranky, and almost incapable of constructive play.

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Posted by Calvin at 18:07 Tagged with: , , , ,

Help Portrait Cork – 12/12/2009

Christmas, Events, PR, Photo Blog, Photography 3 Responses »
Dec 102009

Help Portrait Picture framing service / sponsorship needed for Help Portrait Cork… can your business help?

Max 75 frames and mounts, needed – contact Paul O’Mahony for details

Paul O’Mahony, of MarketingWriteNow got in touch earlier today about a fantastic initiative taking place at the Clarion Hotel in Cork on Saturday 12 December from 9:30 to 15:30.

Help portrait is an international movement of photographers and other professional who are donating time, equipment and expertise to give something back to those less fortunate than them this Christmas. Here’s a video explaining the initiative.

The idea is to help boost the self image and self esteem of people who would never normally consider or be able to afford getting a professional photographer to take their portrait. Who’s that, you might ask? Well, according to the Help Portrait site it could include:

Who needs pictures? Anyone who wouldn’t normally have access to or be able to afford professional photography.

We suggest the following groups of people for starters…-

  • the homeless
  • orphans
  • single moms (and their kids)
  • single dads (and their kids)
  • sick children
  • sick parents
  • the elderly
  • army vets
  • underprivileged families
  • your neighbour?

Some of Cork’s leading photographers are already on board for Help Portrait, and they’ll be supported by photography assistants, make-up artists and a host of other volunteers on the day.

But the organisers are still desperately in need of support and sponsorship. If you’re in Cork, and would be willing to contribute time, resources, catering or a donation of cold, hard cash to support the initiative get in touch with Paul via the Marketing Write Now contact page.

And especially if you can donate / would be willing to sponsor photo frames and mounts for the event please talk to Paul before the end of the day tomorrow (Thursday 09/12) to get things sorted.

If your a blogger, twitterer or facebooker please help spread the word about this great event.

UPDATE: Read more about who was involved in Help Portrait Cork on Paul O’Mahony’s blog, and see some great photos of the action on the day over on Roger Overall’s blog

Posted by Calvin at 0:42 Tagged with: , , , , ,

Call for Online Marketing Case Studies

Books, Digital Marketing, Internet, social media No Responses »
Dec 092009

Understanding Digital I’m working on a new book (a follow-up to Understanding Digital Marketing) that will be published by Kogan Page next year showcasing forty of the best digital marketing campaigns in the world.

We’re sourcing case studies from various places, and will feature a mixture of different online campaigns in the book, from award-winners to more obscure but successful campaigns from all sorts of businesses spanning a variety of industries.

We’re a bit short of time to truly crowdsource all the case studies for this edition – but we are looking for your nominations to help us identify truly exceptional examples of online marketing that we may miss through other channels.

You can use this form to submit your favourite campaign for consideration. We’ll let you know if it goes on to be featured in the book.

Thanks a million for your input.

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Posted by Calvin at 12:03 Tagged with: , , , , ,

Ice skating, fingers, blades and other worries

Children, Evening Echo Column, Events, Parenting, Reviews, family No Responses »
Dec 092009

Uncle Frank "enjoying" Cork on Ice It’s official… I still have all of my extremities. I know this because I’ve counted them. Two arms, two legs, eight fingers, two thumbs, and ten toes.

Three weeks ago it had seemed like such a good idea. My wife was browsing the Cork on Ice website and asked if I’d be up for going ice skating with the gang. Sitting at home in a warm living room saying yes had been easy. Now the day had arrived though I was feeling a bit less assertive.

Me, blades and a large expanse of cold, wet slippery stuff… not a good combination.

I’ve been ice skating maybe three times in my life. The first was as a child, when we were taken to a huge Ice rink in North Wales on a school trip. As with most unpleasant experiences, my mind has obscured most of the details. All I remember is clinging, white-knuckled, to the edge of the rink, making my way inch by painful inch around the perimeter. In my mind’s eye all I could see was images of bloody skate-blades and severed fingers. From the moment I stepped onto the ice I remember praying for the experience to end.

The next time was a friend’s birthday party. When I found out we were going ice-skating it was all that my parents could do to convince me to go. This time I was a little braver, and actually let go of the side. Big mistake… I spent more time spread-eagled on the ice than I did actually skating. Cold, wet and miserable I vowed never to set foot on an ice rink again.

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Posted by Calvin at 11:37 Tagged with: , , , , , ,

Better late, late… or never?

Children, Christmas, Evening Echo Column, Reviews, TV, family No Responses »
Dec 032009

The Late Late Toy Show is an Irish institution.

That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a good thing… just that it’s an inescapable one. As inevitable as death, taxes, corruption, tribunals and election posters, the Late Late Toy Show is one in a long list of things that parents all over the country have to suffer, but would generally prefer to avoid.

Having skilfully managed to sidestep the live airing on Friday night (the girls had friends staying over, and were so engrossed in play that they forgot about it), I thought that we might get away with it this year, but thanks to the wonders of modern technology there was no chance of that. The next day we had a family viewing of the show over the Internet. With the computer hooked up to the flat-screen telly and RTE Player streaming full-screen it was almost as "good" as viewing the live show. Lucky me!

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Posted by Calvin at 14:35 Tagged with: , , , ,

Amazon Kindle e-reader now ships to Ireland

Books, Internet, Technology No Responses »
Dec 032009

Amazon.com is now shipping the much vaunted Kindle e-book reader to Ireland… complete with 3G wireless connectivity that lets you purchase and download new books direct from your kindle, wherever you are, and start reading it within a minute.

http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/kindle/turing/photos/earths-biggest-selection-450px._V251249388_.jpg

Here’s what Amazon has to say about shipping the Kindle to Ireland:

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Posted by Calvin at 13:50 Tagged with: , , , , ,
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